Train-order apparatus.



W. H. PITTMAN. TRAIN ORDER APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, I915.

Llfifififi Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 8 a 11 J0 6 1? r T Ll JO l m 3 Qwuewtoz (WM f WEPiZZmam,

k I Guiana;

cum-mum PIANOGRAPH 120.. WAsHlNu'rcN, D c.

W. H. PITTMAN. TRAIN ORDERAPPARATUS. APPLICATION men APR. 2, 1915.

1,1663% Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 10 E i bi l l g mm J3 if V N COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH COHWAYSHINOTON, D.c.

WILLIAM H. PITTMAN, OF GAVIOTA, CALIFORNIA.

TRAIN-ORDER APPARATUS.

Application filed April 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVILLIAM H. PITTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gaviota, in the county of Santa Barbara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train-Order Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in train order apparatus.

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a train order apparatus having means for supporting a plurality of mes sage and train order sustaining hoops, the said apparatus being rotatable so as to bring each of the hoops successively in position to be grasped by the engineer, conductor or brakeman of a passing train, sothat the next hoop will be arranged in position to be grasped by the official upon the rear of said train.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which may be readily positioned adjacent the track or removed therefrom, and to provide the socket Within which the post is normally sustained with automatic means for closing the same to prevent the entrance of moisture or dirt thereto.

It is a still further object of the invention to providean apparatus of this class which shall embody the desirable features of simplicity in construction, cheapness, durability and thorough effectiveness.

With the above and other objects in view, the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a view of the improvement in its set up position adjacent the track or between two tracks, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. i is a horizontal section approximately on the line lt of Fig. 8, Fig. 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3, Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the socket after the post is removed therefrom, and Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the message holding hoops.

Buried in the roadbed adjacent a railway track or between two railway tracks 1-1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 18,786.

is a socket member or boX 2, the same having its top arranged flush with the surface of the roadbed and said top being normally open. Within the socket 2 is a spring 3 having one of its ends provided with what I will term a cap it, the said spring exerting a tensionto normally force the top flush with the upper edges of the socket to close the said socket and to prevent the entrance .of moisture or dirt thereto.

The improved message delivery and train order apparatus includes a post 42 of a size suflicient to be snugly received within the pocket 2 and the weight of the post and the apparatus attached thereto is su'liicient to force the cap downwardly of the socket against the tension of the spring 3. The post 4- is provided with a vertically disposed slot 5 which enters from its upper end and which is round to receive across sectionally round shaft 6 which is mounted for rotation upon the said post. The post is further provided adjacent its upper end with suitable hooks 77 whereby lanterns may be hung upon the post to indicate to the engineer or other trainman that a message is to be delivered therefrom.

Either integrally formed with the shaft 6 or secured thereto is an enlarged member 8 which is preferably rectangular in cross section, and each of its faces is provided with a vertically disposed groove or channel 9. Also secured to the shaft 6 to the opposite ends of the enlarged portion 8 is a plurality of spring members 10, the same being arranged in pairs and extending in the same direction with-the side walls of each of the channels 9, but, of course, projecting a suitable distance therebeyond. Each of the channels as well as each pair of spring members 10 are adapted to receive and engage a hoop 11, and each of said hoops is provided with a spring clip 12 to secure a message or train order thereto.

Arranged upon the post 4 at a suitable distance below its upper end is a block 13, the same being provided with a plurality of vertically disposed openings 14: arranged adjacent its perimeter, and adapted to be received within one of the openings of a spring bar 15, the said bar being of a length suilicient to contact with one of the hoops 11, and the contact of said spring member 15 with the hoop serves as a means for preventing the rotation of the shaft 6 in one direction, as will readily be understood. By

providing the block 13 with a plurality of openings 1%, each being arranged below two pair of springs 10 and one of the channels 9 in each of the faces of the blocks 8, it will be noted that especial care need not be occasioned in arranging the substantially rectangular post in the substantially rectangular socket 2.

Secured to one side of the post 4, is a boss 16 having disposed therein a spring 17, and one of the ends of the said spring being secured to the boss, the second end convolution having secured thereon a flexible element 18 which passes over a pulley 19 that is secured to a bracket 20 upon the post 4:,

and the said flexible element is wound around and has its end secured to the shaft 6. By this arrangement the shaft will be automatically rotated when the hoop 11 contacted by the spring arm 15 is removed from the device, so that the succeeding hoop will be brought into contact with the said spring orcontact member 15, and so all of the hoops and the messages or train orders contained therein may be successively removed from the'apparatus by the successive trainmen upon the same train.

In operation, a message is placed between the spring clip 12 and the hook 11 which is contacted by the spring bar. 15, and a similar message is arranged between the clip 12 and the next hoop 11 which, when theshaft 6 is revolved, by the removal of the first mentioned hoop 11, will be next brought into contact with the said spring 15. The first mentioned hoop 11 is removed from the device by the engineer or brakeman of the train passing the apparatus, who thus receives a message and the second hoop containing a message is removed by the conductor or other official at or near the rear of the train who receives a like message to that received by the engineer, so that both of'the officials will be properly informed as to what is expected of them upon the run of the train, and of course, similar hoops, each pair 'of which containing similar messages for other trains. are arranged upon the apparatus after all of the hoops have been removed therefrom by the engineer or conductor of passing trains, as will be understood.

It is, of course, to be understood that if desired the spring 17 may be dispensed with and a weight may be provided in lieu thereof, and from the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the simplicity of the device, as well as the advantages thereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to whichsuch invention appertains without further detailed description.

Having thusdescribed the invention, what I claim is: V 7 I 1. In a device for the purpose set forth,

a socket having a spring pressed closure therein, a post adapted to be inserted in the socket to rest upon the closure thereof and compress the spring in the socket, and a rotatable shaft having message or train order carrying hoops thereon.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, a post, a shaft journaled upon the post, means for rotating the shaft in one direction, a hoop supporting member upon the post, said member including springs adapted to contact with the opposite sides of a hoop, and a stop member contacting with the hoop for sustaining the shaft against rotation while the hoop is positioned upon the holder.

3. In a device for the purpose set forth, a post, a shaft journaled upon the post, means for rotating the shaft in one direction, a rectangular holder member connected with the shaft, said member having its faces provided with longitudinal grooves, springs projecting in the side walls provided by the grooves, a hoop arranged within each of the grooves and engaged by the spring member, a stop member contacting one of said hoops for normally preventing the rotation of the shaft.

4. In a device for the purpose set forth, a post, a shaft journaled upon the post, means for rotating the shaft in one direc tion, a rectangular holder member connected with the shaft, said member having its faces provided with longitudinal grooves, springs projecting in the side walls provided by the grooves, a hoop arranged within each of the grooves and engaged by the spring member, a stop member contacting one of said hoops for normally preventing the rotation of the shaft and adapted to successively contact with the remaining hoops as the hoops are successively removed from the holder member.

5. In a device for the purpose set forth, a post, a shaft journaled in the post and projecting vertically therefrom, a pulley connected with the post, a flexible member trained over the pulley and wound around the shaft, means connected with the flexible element for drawing the same in one direction to revolve the shaft upon the post, a holder member secured upon the shaft, said holder member including a block having its faces grooved, spring members upon the shaft and extending longitudinally with the side walls provided by the grooves in the block, message or train order hoops adapted to be received within each of the grooves and to be contacted by the springs, and a stop member including a spring element secured to the post and contacting with one of the hoops for preventing the rotation of the shaft, and said stop member being arranged within the path of contact with the succeeding hoops.

6. In a device for the purpose set forth,

a post having its upper end provided with a slot, a shaft having one of its ends disposed for rotation within the slot, a block secured to the shaft, said block having its faces provided with vertical grooves, spring members secured upon the shaft and extending in a line with the side walls provided by the grooves in the block, hoop members having peripheral clips arranged one within each of the grooves of the blocks and contacted by certain of the springs, a box upon the post, a pulley wheel journaled upon the post, a flexible element trained over the pulley Wheel and wound around the post and secured thereto, a block upon the post above the box, said block having a plurality of openings, and a flat spring member adapted to have one of its ends received Within one of the openings and its opposite end contacted with one of the rings and disposed in a position to be contacted by the succeeding hoops as each of said hoops is separately removed from the apparatus. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. PITTMAN.

Witnesses:

W. S. WRIGHT, ALBERT MEALS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

